Salt Lake City, UT - The Lewis and Clark Blood Service Region’s Chief Medical Officer, Annie Strupp, M.D., retired on Aug 28, 2009.  Dr Strupp had been with the American Red Cross and held the chief medical officer position for about 11 years.  “Dr. Strupp’s knowledge and experience helped the Red Cross to remain the leader in the blood services industry,” said Julia Wulf, chief executive officer.

The occasion was marked at the Lewis and Clark headquarters in Salt Lake City with a retirement ceremony attended by Joan Manning, Western Division vice president and included a tree planting ceremony.  Two maple trees were planted in a grassy area to memorialize Dr. Strupp but, according to Julia Wulf, “…help replenish the mountain of paper generated by Annie.”  During the planting Dr. Strupp fertilized the root ball of each tree with her favorite brand of Starbucks coffee.

Joan Manning thanked Dr. Strupp and presented her with a certificate from Biomedical Headquarters recognizing her years of service to the Red Cross.  It was noted that Dr. Strupp’s entire Red Cross career was spent at the Lewis and Clark headquarters which provides blood services for Idaho, Montana and Utah.  Gifts from each state were presented to Dr. Strupp by Julia Wulf representing Utah, Chris Ocamica from Boise, ID and Debbie Tomell from Missoula, MT.

During the retirement ceremony a video of clips from Dr. Strupp’s career was shown and she was presented with a scrapbook containing photos and other memorabilia from her time with the Red Cross and a frame displaying Red Cross pins.

Asked many times what she was going to do in retirement she explained that she will pursue other activities, including travel.  Immediately after retirement Dr Strupp traveled to the mid-west to help her siblings with the building of a home for their mother.